Apparatus for the treatment of water and other liquids by ultra-violet rays.



V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS BY ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0, 1913.

I I QD PIIIQII QII May25,1915.

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arrives roa THE ranarmnnr or a. ears a in VICTOR HENRI, 0F PARIS, AND ANDRE HELBRONNER AND MAX VON RECKLIN- G' EA'USEN, OF SURESN'ES, FRANCE, ASSIG-NZORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE 1R. U. V. COMPANY, INCL, A CORPORATION 01? NEW i -Specification of Letters Patent.

WATER AND ar sen LmumsBY ULTRA-VIOLET nAYs.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Original applieationfiled butcher 81, 1910, 8.611 NO- 589,995- Dividedand this applicatiun filed November 10, 1913. Serial n. 500,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VICTOR HENRI, .a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, France, ANDRE: HELBRONN-ER, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Suresnes,

France, and MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN, a-

subject of the German Emperor, residing at Suresnes, France, have. invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Treatment of Water and other Liquids by Ultra-Violet Rays, of which the following I flbeen suggested to immerse the source of -rays, a mercury vapor electric lamp having a container of quartz for example, in the liqauid to be treated. This procedure while attaining a useful object 1s objectionable for the reason that the source of rayslmay be unduly cooled by being brought incontact with the liquid to be treated and furthermore deposits of salts are formed on the containing envelop which prevent the passage of the rays and thereby reduce the efiiciency of the apparatus.

According to the present invention we provide an improved apparatus in which the source of ultra-violet rays is' entirely surrounded by liquid to be treated, said liquid, however, bein prevented from coming into contact with t e source of rays which is enveloped by alayer of air.

In the accompanying drawing is shown the apparatus devised or carrying out this invention. p

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the said device and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the same.

The treating vessel is in general form cylindrical, and is composed of a central rotating portion 11 mounted in water tight bearings in thetwo end chambers 9 and 10,,the

whole forming a conduit for containing a llquid which is to be sterilized, and passing t by a source of ultra-violet rays.

A shaft 18 passes entirely through this chamber and affords a support for one or more mercury vapor lamps 4:, which are typical illustrations of a source of ultraviolet rays, and which are supplied by a cur-- rent through terminal wires 19, which may be led from the apparatus in any proper manner.

The several parts of the device are mounted on supports as 12 and 13, and the connections between the central rotating and the stationary end ortions are shown at 16 and 17. The centra portion 11 is provided with a pulley 1 f which is driven by a belt 15.

When the device is operating, the fluid to be sterilized is introduced at 21 until the chamber is practically full, and allowed to flow off at 22. As soon asthe requisite quantity of fluid is received in the chamber the central part is rotated, which results in imparting to the entire mass of liquid a whirling or rotating motion. This will result in the formation of a vacant space or cavity 23 around the lamps or lamp 4 by centrifugal action, and the liquid will continue to flow through the chamber from inlet to outlet while preserving this form. The liquid,

therefore, while not touching the lamps will pass by them and will be sterilized by their rays, and, by the movement of the fluid whlch brings all portions of the liquid into direct contact with the rays, this result will be accomplished quickly and thoroughly. As the air pressure in the cavity 23 is somewhat reduced, only a small proportion of the belt 29. The rod 18 which supports the lam or lamps 4 passes through the hollow sha t. 25' of the propeller wheel. When the latter is rotated a cavity 23 is formed in the liquid, the dimensions of which may be varied by altering the speed of the propeller wheel or by the admission of air through the inlet 20.

By giving a suitable shape to the vessel and causing the liquid to rotate at the correct speed the cavity may be made to assume a shape approximately the same as that of the source of ultra-violet rays so that the inclosing walls of liquid may be equidistant from the source.

The apparatus illustrated'is intended for the purpose of sterilizing water but the invention is generally applicable for the treatment of liquids by ultra-violet rays for any purpose for which such treatment may be desirable or useful.

In all the arrangements illustrated it will be observed that the liquid while undergoing treatment is very considerably agitated, this adds to the efficiency of the apparatus, as it insures that every part of the liquid shall come under. the influence of the rays, this being especially important when the liquid, as is often the case, holds solid matter in suspension.

It will be understood that the forms of construction shown are illustrative of suitable embodiments of our invention and that we do-not limit ourselves to such forms except in so far as limitations are imposed by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention I 1. In apparatus/for treating liquids, the combination with a closed horizontal treating chamber adapted to be filled with the liquid under treatment, a source of ultraviolet rays at the horizontal axial center of said chamber, and means for imparting to the liquid a rotary movement within the chamber about such center, whereby a cavity is formed in the body of the liquid by centrlfugal action, in which is contained the source of rays.

2. In ap aratus for treating liquids, the combination with a closed horizontal treating chamber, adapted to be filled with the liquid under treatment, a portion of said chamber being capable of rotation about a horizontal axis, a source of ultra-violet rays at the axial center of the rotary portion, and means for driving said rotary portion,

whereby a cavity will be formed by centrift ugal action around the source of rays.

3. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with a closed horizontallyextended treating chamber, adapted to contain the liquid to be treated, a sourceof ultra-violet rays at the axialcenter of said chamber, means for producing a rotary movement of the liquid about a horizontal axis within the chamber, and, by centrifugal action, a cavity at the axial center thereof, and means for controlling the admission of air, to the center-of the chamber for varying the dimensions of such cavity, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this tenth day of May VICTOR HENRI. ANDRE HELBRONNER. MAX VON RECKLI'NGHAUSEN.

-Witnesses:

JOHN BAKER, HANsoN C. Coxn. I 

